§ 73.624 Digital television broadcast stations.
(a) Digital television (“DTV”) broadcast stations are assigned channels
6 MHz wide. Initial eligibility for licenses for DTV broadcast stations
is limited to persons that, as of April 3, 1997, are licensed to
operate a full power television broadcast station or hold a permit to
construct such a station (or both).
(b) DTV broadcast station permittees or licensees must transmit at
least one over-the-air video program signal at no direct charge to
viewers on the DTV channel. Until such time as a DTV station permittee
or licensee ceases analog transmissions and returns that spectrum to
the Commission, and except as provided in paragraph (b)(1) of this
section, at any time that a DTV broadcast station permittee or licensee
transmits a video program signal on its analog television channel, it
must also transmit at least one over-the-air video program signal on
the DTV channel. The DTV service that is provided pursuant to this
paragraph must be at least comparable in resolution to the analog
television station programming transmitted to viewers on the analog
channel.
(1) DTV broadcast station permittees and licensees required to
construct and operate a DTV station by May 1, 2002, or May 1, 2003,
pursuant to paragraph (d) of this section must, at a minimum, beginning
on the date on which the DTV station is required to be constructed,
provide a digital video program signal, of the quality described in
paragraph (b) of this section, during prime time hours as defined in
§ 79.3(a)(6) of this chapter. These licensees and permittees must also
comply with the minimum operating hours requirements in paragraph (f)
of this section.
(2) DTV licensees or permittees that choose to commence digital
operation before the construction deadline set forth in paragraph (d)
of this section are not subject to any minimum schedule for operation
on the DTV channel.
(c) Provided that DTV broadcast stations comply with paragraph (b) of
this section, DTV broadcast stations are permitted to offer services of
any nature, consistent with the public interest, convenience, and
necessity, on an ancillary or supplementary basis. The kinds of
services that may be provided include, but are not limited to computer
software distribution, data transmissions, teletext, interactive
materials, aural messages, paging services, audio signals, subscription
video, and any other services that do not derogate DTV broadcast
stations' obligations under paragraph (b) of this section. Such
services may be provided on a broadcast, point-to-point or
point-to-multipoint basis, provided, however, that any video broadcast
signal provided at no direct charge to viewers shall not be considered
ancillary or supplementary.
(1) DTV licensees that provide ancillary or supplementary services that
are analogous to other services subject to regulation by the Commission
must comply with the Commission regulations that apply to those
services, provided, however, that no ancillary or supplementary service
shall have any rights to carriage under § § 614 or 615 of the
Communications Act of 1934, as amended, or be deemed a multichannel
video programming distributor for purposes of section 628 of the
Communications Act of 1934, as amended.
(2) In all arrangements entered into with outside parties affecting
service operation, the DTV licensee or permittee must retain control
over all material transmitted in a broadcast mode via the station's
facilities, with the right to reject any material in the sole judgement
of the permitte or licensee. The license or permittee is also
responsible for all aspects of technical operation involving such
telecommunications services.
(3) In any application for renewal of a broadcast license for a
television station that provides ancillary or supplementary services, a
licensee shall establish that all of its program services on the analog
and the DTV spectrum are in the public interest. Any violation of the
Commission's rules applicable to ancillary or supplementary services
will reflect on the licensee's qualifications for renewal of its
license.
(d) Digital television broadcast facilities that comply with the FCC
DTV Standard (section 73.682(d)), shall be constructed in the following
markets by the following dates:
(1)(i) May 1, 1999: all network-affiliated television stations in the
top ten television markets;
(ii) November 1, 1999: all network-affiliated television stations not
included in category (1)(i) and in the top 30 television markets;
(iii) May 1, 2002: all remaining commercial television stations;
(iv) May 1, 2003: all noncommercial television stations.
(v) May 18, 2008 in all markets for completion of construction of
post-transition (DTV) facilities for all commercial and noncommercial
television stations that will use the same channel used for
pre-transition operation for post-transition operation and that, as of
December 31, 2007, have a construction permit for facilities that
conform to the facilities defined by the new DTV Table of Allotments
and accompanying Appendix B, established by the Seventh Report and
Order in MB Docket No. 87-268 and codified at 47 CFR 73.622(i).
(vi) August 18, 2008 in all markets for completion of construction of
post-transition (DTV) facilities for all commercial and noncommercial
television stations that will use the same channel used for
pre-transition operation for post-transition operation but which, as of
December 31, 2007, do not have a construction permit for facilities
that conform to the facilities defined by the new DTV Table of
Allotments and accompanying Appendix B, established by the Seventh
Report and Order in MB Docket No. 87-268 and codified at 47 CFR
73.622(i).
(vii) June 12, 2009 in all markets for completion of construction of
post-transition (DTV) facilities for all commercial and noncommercial
television stations whose post-transition digital channel is different
from their pre-transition digital channel and for those stations whose
post-transition channel is the same as their pre-transition channel but
that are subject to a unique technical challenge that has been
specifically recognized as such by the Commission.
(2) For the purposes of paragraph (d)(1):
(i) The term, “network,” is defined to include the ABC, CBS, NBC, and
Fox television networks;
(ii) The term, “television market,” is defined as the Designated Market
Area or DMA as defined by Nielsen Media Research as of April 3, 1997;
and
(iii) The terms, “network-affiliated” or “network-affiliate,” are
defined to include those television stations affiliated with at least
one of the four networks designated in paragraph (d)(2)(i) as of April
3, 1997. In those DMAs in which a network has more than one network
affiliate, paragraphs (d)(1) (i) and (ii) of this section shall apply
to its network affiliate with the largest audience share for the 9 a.m.
to midnight time period as measured by Nielsen Media Research in its
Nielsen Station Index, Viewers in Profile, as of February, 1997.
(3) Authority delegated. (i) Authority is delegated to the Chief, Media
Bureau to grant an extension of time of up to six months beyond the
relevant construction deadline specified in paragraph (d)(1) of this
section upon demonstration by the DTV licensee or permittee that
failure to meet that construction deadline is due to circumstances that
are either unforeseeable or beyond the licensee's control where the
licensee has taken all reasonable steps to resolve the problem
expeditiously.
(ii) For construction deadlines occurring prior to June 13, 2009, the
following circumstances may include, but shall not be limited to:
(A) Inability to construct and place in operation a facility necessary
for transmitting digital television, such as a tower, because of delays
in obtaining zoning or FAA approvals, or similar constraints; or
(B) Where the licensee or permittee is currently the subject of a
bankruptcy or receivership proceeding, or is experiencing severe
financial hardship as defined by negative cash flow for the past three
years.
(iii) For construction deadlines occurring after June 12, 2009, the
tolling provisions of § 73.3598 shall apply.
(iv) The Bureau may grant no more than two extension requests upon
delegated authority. Subsequent extension requests shall be referred to
the Commission. The Bureau may deny extension requests upon delegated
authority.
(v) Applications for extension of time shall be filed no earlier than
90 and no later than 60 days prior to the relevant construction
deadline, absent a showing of sufficient reasons for filing within less
than 60 days of the relevant construction deadline.
(e) The application for construction permit must be filed on Form 301
(except for noncommercial stations, which must file on Form 340) on or
before the date on which half of the construction period has elapsed.
Thus, for example, for applicants in category (d)(1)(i), the
application for construction period must be filed by May 1, 1998.
(f)(1) Commencing on April 1, 2003, DTV television licensees and
permittees required to construct and operate a DTV station by May 1,
2002, or May 1, 2003, must transmit at least one over-the-air video
program signal at no direct charge to viewers on their DTV channel at
least 50 percent of the time they are transmitting a video program
signal on their analog channel.
(2) Commencing on April 1, 2004, DTV licensees and permittees described
in paragraph (f)(1) of this section must transmit a video program
signal as described in paragraph (f)(1) of this section on the DTV
channel at least 75 percent of the time they are transmitting a video
program signal on the analog channel.
(3) Commencing on April 1, 2005, DTV licensees and permittees described
in paragraph (f)(1) of this section must transmit a video program
signal as described in paragraph (f)(1) of this section on the DTV
channel at least 100 percent of the time they are transmitting a video
program signal on the analog channel.
(4) The minimum operating hours requirements imposed in paragraphs (f)
(1) through (3) of this section will terminate when the analog channel
terminates operation and a 6 MHz channel is returned by the DTV
licensee or permittee to the Commission.
(g) Commercial and noncommercial DTV licensees and permittees, and low
power television, TV translator and Class A television stations DTV
licensees and permittees, must annually remit a fee of five percent of
the gross revenues derived from all ancillary and supplementary
services, as defined by paragraph (b) of this section, which are
feeable, as defined in paragraphs (g)(2)(i) and through (ii) of this
section.
(1)(i) All ancillary or supplementary services for which payment of a
subscription fee or charge is required in order to receive the service
are feeable. The fee required by this provision shall be imposed on any
and all revenues from such services, including revenues derived from
subscription fees and from any commercial advertisements transmitted on
the service.
(ii) Any ancillary or supplementary service for which no payment is
required from consumers in order to receive the service is feeable if
the DTV licensee directly or indirectly receives compensation from a
third party in return for the transmission of material provided by that
third party (other than commercial advertisements used to support
broadcasting for which a subscription fee is not required). The fee
required by this provision shall be imposed on any and all revenues
from such services, other than revenues received from a third party in
return for the transmission of commercial advertisements used to
support broadcasting for which a subscription fee is not required.
(2) Payment of fees. (i) Each December 1, all commercial and
noncommercial DTV licensees and permittees will electronically report
whether they provided ancillary or supplementary services in the
12-month period ending on the preceding September 30. Licensees and
permittees will further report, for the applicable period:
(A) A brief description of the services provided;
(B) Which services were feeable ancillary or supplementary services;
(C) Whether any ancillary or supplementary services provided were not
subject to a fee;
(D) Gross revenues received from all feeable ancillary and
supplementary services provided during the applicable period; and
(E) The amount of bitstream used to provide ancillary or supplementary
services during the applicable period. Licensees and permittees will
certify under penalty of perjury the accuracy of the information
reported. Failure to file regardless of revenues from ancillary or
supplementary services or provision of such services may result in
appropriate sanctions.
(ii) If a commercial or noncommercial DTV licensee or permittee has
provided feeable ancillary or supplementary services at any point
during a 12-month period ending on September 30, the licensee or
permittee must additionally file the FCC's standard remittance form
(Form 159) on the subsequent December 1. Licensees and permittees will
certify the amount of gross revenues received from feeable ancillary or
supplementary services for the applicable 12-month period and will
remit the payment of the required fee.
(iii) The Commission reserves the right to audit each licensee's or
permittee's records which support the calculation of the amount
specified on line 23A of Form 159. Each licensee or permittee,
therefore, is required to retain such records for three years from the
date of remittance of fees.
[ 62 FR 26989 , May 16, 1997, as amended at 63 FR 15784 , Apr. 1, 1998; 63 FR 69216 , Dec. 16, 1998; 64 FR 4327 , Jan. 28, 1999; 66 FR 58982 , Nov.
26, 2001; 66 FR 65135 , Dec. 18, 2001; 67 FR 13232 , Mar. 21, 2002; 67 FR 38423 , June 4, 2002; 69 FR 59535 , Oct. 4, 2004; 73 FR 5683 , Jan. 30,
2008; 74 FR 8878 , Feb. 27, 2009; 76 FR 44827 , July 27, 2011]
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